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My navigation unit keeps ejecting the nav disc

I last drove the Z8 in December and I took her out today. I noticed a clank sound from the compartment where the nav drive is, so I opened it up to find the nav disc ejected. I put it back in and waited a few minutes and it ejects again. I tried turning the car off and then back on etc. Nothing seems to work. Any thoughts before I bring her in to the dealer?

Sounds like the CD isn't being recognized by the navigation unit and in response the disk is ejected. Do you have the set of GPS disks or just the one for your area? I might try a different disk to see if you can isolate the problem to the original CD or the navigation unit.

My head unit does not show "navigation" either, but the red LED on the NAV unit itself was on as were the backlighting for the "CD IN" and the eject button etc. Very strange. My car goes on a lift in winter so its back up there. When Spring gets here I will investigate this more throughly.

You don't think this could have something to do with the date of the Nav discs, do you? I wouldn't think so, but who knows what kind of software tricks are in there. If you've never updated the discs, the nav data could be so out of date that it triggers something in the system to disallow navigation with data that old.
One problem this presents is Navteq, who did the map data, stopped supporting BMW map updates a few years ago. Here's the message from the Navteq website:
"BMW Navigation Map Updates
Thank you for your interest in purchasing a BMW Navigation Map Update. At this time, NAVTEQ? no longer produces or distributes map update DVDs and CDs for your vehicle. For more information on how to purchase as well as general questions regarding your BMW Navigation System, please contact your local authorized BMW Dealer. To find the BMW Dealer nearest you, please click here."
I'm not sure what BMW can do about it, but perhaps they have a solution to receiving updated map data. I haven't checked other vendors to see if they picked up BMW updates.

You don't think this could have something to do with the date of the Nav discs, do you? I wouldn't think so, but who knows what kind of software tricks are in there. If you've never updated the discs, the nav data could be so out of date that it triggers something in the system to disallow navigation with data that old.
One problem this presents is Navteq, who did the map data, stopped supporting BMW map updates a few years ago. Here's the message from the Navteq website:
"BMW Navigation Map Updates
Thank you for your interest in purchasing a BMW Navigation Map Update. At this time, NAVTEQ? no longer produces or distributes map update DVDs and CDs for your vehicle. For more information on how to purchase as well as general questions regarding your BMW Navigation System, please contact your local authorized BMW Dealer. To find the BMW Dealer nearest you, please click here."
I'm not sure what BMW can do about it, but perhaps they have a solution to receiving updated map data. I haven't checked other vendors to see if they picked up BMW updates.

No. I just bought the latest (2012) official BMW CD rom. Still does not run.

Yup, this is not a cheap car to maintain and most of the cost seems to be going into non-essential components.

I just had a windshield replaced (slightly over $2K) and trunk lid shocks ($250), add an oil change for an even $2.5K since the last trip to the dealer 6 months ago. For the 600 miles driven since, this is about $5 a mile, if I add fuel and insurance

OK, just got the car back (serviced) got a thumbs up regarding state it is in.
BMW techs found out that the navigation computer is broken. Recommendation is to replace it (BMW part nr 65.90.6920183). Price of this unit: 2000 euro's excl taxes and installation. Without any question from my side the BMW sales person informed me that there are spare units in the market, if I could get one installing it by BMW would cost about 400-500 euro's. Guess I have to look out for one

OK, I took the Z to the electronics specialist yesterday and had the completely renewed navigation computer installed; it worked within seconds! The only thing we had to wait for was a GPS fix, but after 2 minutes this also was working fine.
The guys told me that the Z8 MK3 computer is a different one than the normal MK3 computer. The problem is not repairing the unit, but testing it. It could be that the software versions of the car and the unit are not communicating; and in that case it will not work at all. Costs of this repair: 500 euro's. And I like the fact that I still have my original navigation computer, only with a new 'inside'

Great news. In my case I had to replace the nav computer and upon firing it up - it didn't work. Apparently there are different wires or something that they need to install so it goes back in a few weeks. They offered to keep the car there while we waited for parts. But Id rather have it home and then it was just scheduling between them and I to get the appointment.

That's a good point but I just don't know. I have a much older nav computer- now that i think about it- I think it was not the computer but the disc reader that we replaced. Something needs some tlc. I'm just not sure what. Most of the time I like to learn all the ins and outs on something like this but I've been busy enough that I'm just trusting the tech at my dealership. He's been working on the car since maybe 2003..: I trust him. Will report back when I have more.

For those who aren't aware, the ALPINAs have a DVD based NAV unit that uses only 1 DVD to cover the entire US rather than the 6 CDs or so required by the CD based units in the Z8. Perhaps these are interchangeable (cabling changes?) and might be an upgrade to the stock Z8 unit if you have to have yours "fixed". Just a thought...

For those who aren't aware, the ALPINAs have a DVD based NAV unit that uses only 1 DVD to cover the entire US rather than the 6 CDs or so required by the CD based units in the Z8. Perhaps these are interchangeable (cabling changes?) and might be an upgrade to the stock Z8 unit if you have to have yours "fixed". Just a thought...

I am having the same problem with my 2001 Z8; Does anyone know if the installing the updated to the MKIV (DVD-Based) unit is plug-n-play for cars that originally came with the MKIII (CD-Based Navigation).

I remembered reading about the CD to DVD GPS conversion in the PDF files to download section of the forum. Here's the quote from the Changes made... PDF:

"Change to the DVD-GPS-unit, from the MK III-system to the MK IV-system. All of Europe is now stored on one single DVD, the input of postal codes is now possible with the appropriate software update and the speed has increased tremendously, (about 10 x). A retrofit from MKII and MK III to the DVD-system MK IV is possible, however appropriate programming is required. BMW had not intended a retrofit. Note: Only the BMW Z8 GPS-unit were configured for vertical installation!"

I am having the same problem with my 2001 Z8; Does anyone know if the installing the updated to the MKIV (DVD-Based) unit is plug-n-play for cars that originally came with the MKIII (CD-Based Navigation).

This happened to mine as well. I don't think I am going to fix it. It is old technology. I use my iphone if I need nav. How would a non-functional nav system effect price on the car should I ever decide to sell it? It's like having a 1970's vintage car with a non functional 8 track player. Would anyone really care?

Z-acht thank you for the website, but I might be missing something I seems all the BMW Navigations units listed are Vertical MK3 units. Did BMW make an MK4 vertical unit for the Z8 or will the Horizontal MK4 unit work on the Z8?

I actually have used the navigation system in the Z8 with an updated disk. Clunky? Yes! Will it make you appreciate the map function of more recent systems? Yes! But if you can follow verbal directions, it works!